Technology Resources for the Online Environment

Brightspace
Brightspace is the university’s learning management system (LMS).
The LMS is a place where instructors and students can interact and engage with one another and enables an instructor to virtually provide structure to their courses.
An instructor can use a Brightspace course shell to:
- Post Announcements
- Upload content (text, documents, videos, media) for student access
- Collect assignments
- Conduct Quizzes
- Engage students in discussions
Support
- Get Help with Brightspace on the Web
- Email: ecat@montana.edu
- Phone: (406) 994-3255
- Login

Pulse mobile app
The Pulse mobile app is easy D2L access for students on their mobile devices
With a visual to show upcoming activities, learners can use Brightspace Pulse to plan their week – knowing when they really have to buckle down. They can track upcoming assignments, access course content online or offline, submit a discussion post, take a quiz, access grades, or view their course activity feed.
It’s easy to stay up-to-date with app notifications for new content and upcoming due dates, an activity feed of course announcements, and active discussions that the student is following.
We know that seeing a grade can be a stressful moment. Students can choose to reveal their grade whenever they choose.
Support
- Web: Learn more about the Pulse mobile app
- Email: ecat@montana.edu
- Phone: (406) 994-3255

WebEx Meetings
Host impromptu, scheduled, or 1 on 1 meetings such as office hours.
Although students have their own WebEx accounts from MSU, they do not need accounts to join.
Support
- Web: Learn more about WebEx Meetings
- Email: helpdesk@montana.edu
- Phone: (406) 994-1777
- Login

WebEx Trainings
Run an online class with features such as testing, polling, raise hands, or break out rooms.
Although students have their own WebEx accounts from MSU, they do not need accounts to join.
Support
- Web: Learn more about WebEx Trainings
- Email: helpdesk@montana.edu
- Phone: (406) 994-1777
- Login

WebEx Events
Host a very large webinar or conference where remote participants will primarily be listening. (Max of 3000)
Although students have their own WebEx accounts from MSU, they do not need accounts to join.
Support
- Web: Learn more about WebEx Meetings
- Email: helpdesk@montana.edu
- Phone: (406) 994-1777
- Login

Microsoft Teams
Host impromptu, scheduled, or 1 on 1 meetings such as office hours.
Whether you're within the walls of the classroom or connecting remotely, you can access the tools you need for classroom management and student engagement.
Support
- Web: Learn more about Microsoft Teams
- Email: helpdesk@montana.edu
- Phone: (406) 994-1777

Panopto
Panopto is a video recording platform that allows users to record video from their personal computers, capturing the content on their screen (presentation software, Webpages, note-taking) and allowing users to share their webcams. Panopto stores videos online and provides features like viewer analytics, embedded quiz questions and captioning.
You can easily embed videos uploaded to Panopto into BrightSpace courses.
Support
- Web: Learn more about Panopto
- Email: panopto@montana.edu
- Phone: (406) 994-6812
- Login
Teaching, Learning and Technology (TLT) Studio
The TLT Studio is a dedicated space where instructors can come and develop media for their online courses.
The studio includes a recording suite designed for the development of video or other multimedia content using tools like Panopto, Camtasia and Adobe Creative Cloud. The studio also hosts the LearningGlass where instructors can record themselves drawing out content on a glass board to create engaging videos for students to access online.
Support
- Web: Learn more about the TLT Studio
- Email: ato@montana.edu
- Phone: (406) 994-6550
- Make a reservation

Remote Labs
Remote Labs provide Students virtual access to the software applications they need in order to complete their studies.
Remote Labs provides access to the Full Application Suite of software and an adjusted version of the Rendering Application Suite. These lists can be found on the Labs Software page.
Support
- Web: Learn more about Remote Labs
- Email: helpdesk@montana.edu
- Phone: (406) 994-1777
Student Computer Labs
Student Labs provide students access to computers and preset software applications that students need in order to complete their studies. Faculty can also use some labs as teaching spaces.
Access includes a Full Application Suite and a Rendering Application Suite.
Support
- Web: Learn more about Student Computer Labs
- Email: helpdesk@montana.edu
- Phone: (406) 994-1777
Tech Checkouts
The MSU Library provides students with access to technologies by checking out laptops, iPads, voice recorders, digital cameras, calculators, chargers, GPS units and more.
Support
- Web: Learn more about Tech Checkouts at the Library
- Email: Use the Ask the Library form
- Phone: (406) 994-3139

Read&Write Gold
Read&Write Gold (RWG) is literacy support software. It provides students tools that can be used online or in desktop apps that read on-screen text, look up definitions, help with vocabulary, turn documents and web pages into MP3 files, assist with research and much more.
Once installed, the Read&Write Gold customizable toolbar can be integrated and used with applications like Microsoft Word, web browsers (like Internet Explorer and Chrome), Adobe Reader (PDFs) and many others.
Support
- Web: Learn more about Read&Write Gold
- Email: helpdesk@montana.edu
- Phone: (406) 994-1777
Respondus
Respondus can be used to build an archive of test and quiz questions that can be reused, shared, and exported in many formats.
Respondus connects with Brightspace to assist with Question Library and Quizzes management in Brightspace courses.
Respondus can be used for creating and managing question and answer formats that can be printed to paper or published directly to Brightspace. Exams, surveys, self-assessments can be created on a local computer (not connected to the internet).
Note: Respondus is currently only supported on Windows devices.
Support
- Web: Learn more about Respondus
- Email: ecat@montana.edu
Study Mate
StudyMate is a cloud-based tool that makes it easy for both instructors and learners to create flash cards, self-assessments, and learning games.
StudyMate can be accessed from directly within Brightspace.
Support
- Web: Learn more about StudyMate
- Email: ecat@montana.edu

Office 365
Office 365 license includes tools for students to use to complete class work with either desktop, web-based and mobile application such as Outlook, Word, Excel and many more.
Office ProPlus, the Office suite of desktop software available for download on up to 5 devices.
Support
- Web: Learn more about Office 365
- Email: helpdesk@montana.edu
- Phone: (406) 994-1777
Open Educational Resources (OER)
The Montana Library OER program supports improving textbook affordability in the state of Montana by providing resources, training, and grant funds to institutions of higher education.
OER help address these issues:
- you only use a portion of your textbook and supplement a lot with outside resources
- your favorite textbook is out of print
- your favorite textbook gets new editions and higher prices faster than you can keep up with
- you have yet to find a text that suits all your needs, but like the ancillary materials the publisher provides
- you spend a lot of time trying to find new relevant materials to include with your text
- you are interested in using Open Education Resources for a course but feel like there’s too much work involved in getting started
Learn more about how to address issues with textbook limitations.
Support
- Web:
- Email: christina.trunnell@montana.edu or doralyn@montana.edu
- Phone: (406) 994-5715 or (406) 994-3153
LibGuides
Select a subject or course to find research and reference tools prepared by MSU librarians.
- Can be embedded into Brightspace
- Custom guides created on request
- Keeps helpful library resources linked from within your Brightspace instances
- Ensures proper MSU authentication for library resources appears for login rather than prompting for payment for access
Support
- Web: Research Guides at the MSU Library
- Email: Use the Ask the Library form
- Phone: (406) 994-3139

Turnitin
Turnitin (Tii) helps instructors check learner work for originality.
Tii checks for originality by comparing submitted content to a database containing previously submitted content specific to MSU-Bozeman. It also makes comparisons to content found on the internet.
Turnitin includes "Grademark" functionality which allows for annotation of documents which can then be viewed by learners.
Use of Turnitin software is available to all instructors associated with the MSU system (Bozeman, Billings, Great Falls, Northern) via an integration with the Brightspace system. Instructors use Turnitin inside of the learning environment by enabling Tii for Assignments folders.
Support
- Learn more about Turnitin at MSU
- Email: ecat@montana.edu
- Phone: (406) 994-3255
- Login